CLASSROOM TO CAREER College of
CAREER READY The Western New England University Advantage There s a reason why employers come scouting for top business talent at Western New England University, and why recruiters from multinational corporations call the dean of our College of Business directly when seeking job candidates with expertise in SAP software. They recognize that our College of Business offers a rigorous curriculum augmented by experiential learning to deliver a business education held to the world s highest accreditation standards. Through the trails blazed by our 19,451 business alumni they also know that our graduates are ready for the global workforce. Prepared, professional, and ready to hit the ground running, Western New England University students move seamlessly from classroom to career. 44% Western New England University alumni are graduates of the College of Business. In a survey of College of Business students from the Class of 2014, 95% were employed/offered employment within six months after graduation. Additional respondents were in graduate school.
Western New England University College of Business 1
WE RE IN GOOD COMPANY 12 undergraduate majors 5dual majors 3accelerated or law programs 3graduate programs 5combined graduate programs bachelor/master s The best business schools in the world are accredited by AACSB International The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. In fact, Western New England University is among fewer than 5% of business schools in the world to hold this accreditation, valued by graduate programs and employers worldwide. In its annual America s Best Colleges edition, U.S. News & World Report ranks Western New England in the top tier of the Regional Universities-North category of colleges and universities offering a full range undergraduate and master s programs. Sport Management is one of just two programs in the U.S. accredited by both COSMA (Commission on Sport Management Accreditation) and AACSB International. The University is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). 90% of business faculty hold the highest degrees in their fields (PhD or law). 2 Western New England University College of Business
100% of classes taught by business faculty (no teaching assistants) 19,451 College of Business alumni worldwide 1,307 Business alumni holding multiple degrees from Western New England University Average class size 20 College of Business 3
MAKING THE WORLD YOUR CLASSROOM The Western New England business curricula present opportunities to study global economies, cultures, and business models on campus and around the world. Through the International Business major and minor, students explore the challenges and opportunities of today s global economy. With just two additional courses, they can enhance their opportunities with a second major in Finance or Marketing. The Global Scholars Program combines internationally focused coursework with global business exposure through networking and international travel/study experiences. Our International Business Programs, including the popular Breakfast Series, invites students and the business community to lectures by leaders on topics shaping global commerce. Faculty-led short-term seminar summer trips enable students to study business in foreign countries, tour corporate headquarters, and meet international business people. Destinations have included Peru, Italy, China, and Greece. The Center for International Sport Business (CISB) hosts world-renowned sports speakers and sponsors study/travel programs to international events, including the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup that provide a firsthand look into the multibillion dollar sport industry. 4 Western New England University College of Business
The Sophomore Experience Abroad (SEA) program at London s Richmond University offers the best of both worlds the opportunity to study in a world capital of culture and commerce, and be taught by visiting Western New England University faculty all for the same tuition, room, and board as studying on campus. 80 SEA Students have studied in England and France since 2010. 45,802 miles have been traveled by students through the CISB. 22% of the Class of 2014 have studied abroad. College of Business 5
TECH TOOLS OF THE TRADE A $1,075,000 gift funded the Frances and Norman Cohen Trading Room and Financial Center, which gives business students access to detailed and historical financial information about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and commodities. In the Portfolio Management course, students trade a $100,000 investment fund. The gift also funds the Cohen Endowed Scholarship program for upper-class students. Successful businesses are built on connectivity the seamless sharing of information. That s why job seekers knowledgeable in SAP, an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, are in demand. The College of Business offers SAP Certification to all business students. Only 10% of business programs in the U.S. offer this certification. Our graduates have been hired by Financial Partners Inc., KPMG, Unilever, MassMutual Financial Group, Brooks Brothers, EMC, Newell Rubbermaid, Accenture, Deloitte, and Epicor. In recent years, several students from Western New England have been selected for prestigious internships at Unilever, thanks to their extensive expertise with SAP. Each student was later offered a full-time position. To learn to collaborate with technical professionals, business entrepreneurs are teamed with those from the College of Engineering in the cross-disciplinary Product Development Innovations course where they develop, design, and market a real product. Several have led to patents. 6 Western New England University College of Business
10% Only of business programs in the US offer SAP Certification. 42% of students in the Class of 2014 graduated with SAP Certification. College of Business 7
CONNECTING TO THE FUTURE Networking is integral to establishing future connections. The College of Business provides numerous opportunities for students to meet mentors or prospective internship sponsors or employers. Joining clubs and pre-professional organizations, business students gain insight into their prospective fields and explore career paths. The College of Business student clubs and organizations include the Accounting Association, Entrepreneurship Club, Management Association, Marketing Association, and Sport Management Association. The AlumniLinks program connects students with alumni mentors who offer coaching about career paths, job search strategizing, interviewing, and applying for and landing a job after graduation. Our alumni are actively involved in the educational experience of our students and frequently speak to classes or student organizations about their time at Western New England and how it impacted their career trajectory. The Careers in Sport panel, held during Open House, showcases young alumni who share insights about working in the sport industry. In the Sophomore Career Connections program, students are paired with alumni mentors to shadow them to learn about career paths. Seniors in the Management and Leadership program test their ability to analyze business problems and report their findings in the RealTest event, a unique daylong opportunity to network with and receive guidance from alumni and local business representatives. 8 Western New England University College of Business
10 companies attend Meet the Firms Night. 26 students participate in the RealTest annually. 40 business mentors have participated in the RealTest annually. 187 students have participated in Sophomore Career Connections. 136 students have participated in the AlumniLINKS program. Students also network with alumni and area professionals through events sponsored by student societies such as the Accounting Association s Meet the Firms Night that introduces them to representatives from large and small accounting firms to make connections for internships or jobs. More than 200 students attend this annual event. College of Business 9
FIELD TESTED BY EXPERIENCE Western New England University has developed an extensive internship network with more than 1,000 sponsors. Our students have worked for such organizations as the Boston Celtics, Disney, LEGO Systems, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Nonprofit Board Experience is a unique, yearlong internship and tremendous networking opportunity in which students serve alongside leaders in the community on boards of directors for area charities such as the Springfield Boys and Girls Clubs, American Red Cross, YMCA, and Habitat for Humanity. Students in the Marketing and Marketing Communication/Advertising majors can learn about media sales and campaign development through partnerships with three local televisions stations in the immersive Media Sales Field Experience. Western New England University graduates are widely respected in the accounting field and the College of Business enjoys strong relationships with the Big Four Accounting firms, leading financial institutions, and major corporations. The University s reputation in the business community attracts many businesses and nonprofit agencies to the College of Business to conduct research for their companies. From new product rollouts to optimizing social media, these projects give students opportunities to apply theory to practice. 10 Western New England University College of Business
87% of the class of 2014 had internships. 83% of business courses involve career-related components. Western New England fosters a culture of volunteerism and provides business students with unlimited opportunities to match service learning with their interests. Business students routinely assist the disadvantaged with tax preparation, tutor students as Springfield Schools volunteers, or travel the country helping others through the Alternative Spring Break program. College of Business 11
DISTINCTION THROUGH HONORS The College of Business provides students with the opportunity to distinguish their academic careers through participation in the College of Business Honors program. Business Honors courses are distinguished by the type of work required, pace of study, and opportunities for broader consideration of core course themes. The program is embedded in the core curriculum so that no additional courses are required. At the start of their sophomore year, outstanding business students are inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta (honor society) during the University s Fall Convocation ceremony. Juniors and seniors of academic distinction are recognized by membership in Beta Gamma Sigma which is the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive in an undergraduate or master s program at a school accredited by AACSB International. 12 Western New England University College of Business
SCHOLARSHIPS FUEL THE DREAM The Frances and Norman Cohen Endowed Scholarship, established by the estate of the wife of an alumnus, is a shining example of the strong affinity our alumni and their families hold for our programs. Three Cohen scholars are selected each year based on their academic performances. more than 130 scholarships are open to business students. From the classroom to career, the College of Business prepares students to lead the future of business. Come be a part of our integrated strategy toward business education. Other scholarships have been established by successful business alumni, who value their education at Western New England University and want to keep it affordable for others. Students are automatically considered for these other awards during the financial aid application process. College of Business 13
College of 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, MA 01119 www.wne.edu/business